Monday, 2 February 2009

Exhibit 00000010

ILLUSTRATION FROM MAGGIE BLACK'S TRANSLATION of THE MEDIEVAL COOKBOOK
Depicts the punishment of a baker who had defied the strict 'bread regulations' of the 13th century (weight, price, recipe) and was therefore dragged through the street on a sled with the offending bread tied around his neck. A form of castigation that perhaps should be considered for the banking industry of the early 21st century. Except, substitute 'sled' for 'posteriors' and 'offending bread' for '*Central Australian Fierce Snakes'. *number 1 most venomous snake in the world, excluding American Heath Insurance Executives.

Monday, 26 January 2009

Exhibit 00000009


17TH CENTURY BEZOAR IN GOLD FILIGREE CASING

A bezoar is a ball of swallowed foreign material (usually hair or fiber, but sometimes grit and stone) that collects in the stomach and fails to pass through the intestines. Mostly found in ruminating animals, those with glossy hair and a frivolous sense of rhythm. The Natural assumption, centuries ago, was that this would make them the perfect antidote to poison. Obviously. The word itself meant counter-poison or antidote in Persian. The gullible and affluent would purchase them at exorbitant prices to rub on infected areas or even ingest. Making them Bidigested matter. A Bezoar stone, such as this one, when placed in a beverage was thought to *purify it of poison and infections. *No refunds or exchanges available at any time.

Friday, 16 January 2009

Exhibit 00000008

MARABU UND MASKEN (1915), COURTING (1914), RICHARD MULLER
Richard Müller 1874-1954, was such an astonishingly accomplished young draughtsperson that he attained a place in the Dresden Academy at the age of 16, and was a superlative etcher by the age of 21 but then gave it up for the last 30 years of his life and remained relatively unknown until 1974, 20 years after his death which evens it all out somewhat. Appears to have entertained an unnatural fetish for long-legged birds.

Wednesday, 14 January 2009

Exhibit 00000007a/b

SIMPLE MICROSCOPE, 1680, PARIS
Manufactured by Depovilly from the famous design of 'father of microbiology': Antonij Van Leeuwenhoek. During his lifetime this gauchely over-achieving Dutchman ground 500 optical lenses, designed 400 types of microscope, discovered infusoria, bacteria, spermatazoa, single-celled organisms, was accepted into the English Royal Society, ran a drapery store, and presumably saved children and animals from drowning on a regular basis. Rumours that he was in possession of a remarkably small member are unsubstantiated.

Saturday, 10 January 2009

Exhibit 00000006

18TH CENTURY ANATOMICAL BOWL MADE IN CHINA AND THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN DECORATED IN HOLLAND. The detail image to the left is most probably the heart, or lung, or reproductive organs, or bagpipes, or a kebab.

Exhibit 00000005a/b



PAINTED BY THE NEPALESE TANGKA ARTIST ROMIO SHRESTHA AND HIS STUDENTS IN KATHMANDU OVER 7 YEARS IN THE LATE 1980S, EARLY 1990S FROM ORIGINALS PAINTED BETWEEN 1687 AND 1703 DURING THE RULE OF THE FIFTH DALAI LAMA, TO ILLUSTRATE THE TANTRAS, THE WRITTEN FORM OF TRADITIONAL TIBETAN MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE. (The first image shows urinalysis, pathological signs and demonic possession, the 2nd shows Causes of disease...and apparently the anatomy of a clown, although with flowers removed from forearm compartment and length of feet drastically reduced to fit on paper)

Monday, 22 December 2008

Exhibit 00000004

BOXWOOD ROSARY BEAD, BRABANT, EARLY 16TH CENTURY
At 5.2cm diameter, this tiny carved depiction of no less than 7 scenes from the Christian Religion's Bible, was considerably lighter and more portable than the leather-bound versions of the book in the South Lowlands at the time and definitely easier to fit into a leather catapult to fire at the damned heads of heretics and heathens. This beadling, as it was termed, was enthusiastically taken up by minor parish officials and is the origin of their title 'Beadle', possibly
With thanks and plaudits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.